HIGHWAY 10 IS CLOSED AGAIN

Crews are currently working the west side of Cranberry with heavy equipment to create a fire break. The HB Hydro assessment report will be available later tonight to show the extent of the fire damage to the powergrid.

The office of the Fire Commissioner has people in Cranberry assisting with efforts from OCN Fire Departmentand the Pas Fire Department. They are expecting five fire crews from Ontario tonight to continue with containment efforts.

Cranberry is still in a state of emergency and the evacuation order remains in place. For residents in Wanless the fire is currently 2.5 km away from the community and 2 km from the highway. Water Bombers are working actively with crews on the ground and heavy equipment to contain the fire break.

Again they are advising residents to havetheir 72 hour essential family needs together and their 72 hour plan for accommodations prepared JUST IN CASE.

(Courtesty of the Province of Manitoba)

The Manitoba Wildfire Service, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (EMO) and the Manitoba Fire Service are currently responding to a significant number of active fires in the area around Flin Flon and The Pas. There is extreme fire behaviour in the area caused by drought conditions and high winds. 

As of this afternoon, fire WE010 near Flin Flon is approximately 31,600 hectares based on updated mapping and continues to impact the cottage subdivisions of Sourdough Bay, Whitefish Lake, Twin Lakes, Schist Lake North and Cranberry Portage.

The fire is approximately 1.5 kilometres away from Cranberry Portage and the community has now been evacuated to The Pas. Provincial Emergency Social Services is available to residents. The Rural Municipality of Kelsey has established a reception centre at the Wescana Inn in The Pas to register evacuees and to arrange for accommodations. 

A reception centre has been established at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon to support evacuees and assist with accommodations for residents affected by evacuation orders from the following areas:

• Sourdough Bay Subdivision
• Twin Lakes Cottage Subdivision
• Whitefish Lake Cottage Subdivision
• Schist Lake North Cottage Subdivision
• Bakers Cottage Subdivision
• Bakers Narrows Provincial Park

Approximately 550 residents are affected at this time but that number may increase as conditions change.

If you are a resident or evacuee currently impacted by the wildfire situation in Manitoba and require further assistance, dial 211 or toll-free 1-855-275-1197, or for text-based help, use the chat at https://mb.211.ca/get-help-now/.

The fire crossed a section of railway in the area and is impacting rail travel between Cranberry Portage and Pukatawagan.

Power outages have been reported in the impacted area surrounding the fire. Power has been restored to Bakers Narrow and power outages continue to affect Cranberry Portage and Sourdough Bay.

Campgrounds in Bakers Narrows and Grass River provincial parks are closed until at least May 27 including Bakers Narrows, Gyles, Iskwasum Landing and Reed Lake. Manitoba Parks is contacting all affected reservation holders and seasonal campers. Backcountry travel along the Grass River from Cranberry Portage to Reed Lake is prohibited. Further park closures may be enacted. For updates visit www.manitobaparks.com.

Air tankers from Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been working on the fire. Five additional crews from Ontario are expected to arrive today and another five tomorrow.

Fire WE011 near Wanless north of The Pas is approximately 1,550 hectares and crews are working to protect the hydro line between The Pas and Cranberry Portage. There has been no damage at this time. The fire is approximately five kilometres away from Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 10. Those travelling on PTH 10 may be impacted by poor visibility due to smoke.

There is a communication outage impacting Flin Flon, Sherridon, Paradise Lodge and Sourdough Bay between Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage. This includes P25, wireless, wireline, data, internet, and internet protocol television (IPTV). Communications remain available in Creighton, SK west of Flin Flon. Technicians are in the area and are working to implement a temporary solution to restore communications.

Interac and credit card services are not in operation in the affected areas due to the communication outage. Though travel in the area is not advised, those travelling should plan accordingly.

Provincial burning permits are required for outdoor fires set within the burn permit area from April 1 to Nov. 15 annually. To check for municipal burning restrictions, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html. Burn permit holders are reminded to check weather conditions, have adequate suppression equipment and ensure proper fuel breaks are in place before burning. Never leave an outdoor fire unattended and always extinguish it before leaving, and exercise caution when in or near forested areas. 

For ongoing updates on wildfires and burn permits in Manitoba, follow the Manitoba government’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account at https://twitter.com/MBGovNews. Further details, updates, restrictions and other important wildfire information is available at https://gov.mb.ca/wildfire/. To report a wildfire, call 911 or the TIP line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076. 

The Northern Health Region stopped by 102.9 CFAR earlier today to update us on how you can access different resources for health as we got the details from Sarah Pawlachuk.

"The Flin Flon General Hospital continues to provide medical services. Please report to the Emergency department for urgent and emergent needs. At this time the lab is open for routine blood work with limited services. The Flin Flon Clinic at the hospital is also open. Primary Health Care Centre is open for public health services and the physio department is closed for any scheduled appointments for the duration of the week. As well the Northern Patient Transportation NPTP office is currently closed. A reminder to all Northern Health Region staff to please report for your regular scheduled shifts. Stay safe, work safe and continue to listen to Arctic Radio for more updates."

The NRHA have installed Starlink and now have internet capabilities.

This is the latest fire bulletin to be released on the Flin Flon Fire situation from the Manitoba Government.

Investigation has determined that a 34-year-old male was seriously assaulted at a residence in Thompson on April 25^TH . Yesterday, police arrested Lawrence Moose, 28, from South Indian Lake. He is charged with Aggravated Assault and Assault Peace Officer, a charge he got at the time of his arrest in Thompson. He is remanded in custody.

Police have identified Kenneth Paynter, 36, from Thompson, as another suspect. He is wanted on a charge of Aggravated Assault.

Paynter is described as 5’11” tall and 256 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes. His neck is completely covered with tattoos.

If you have information about this incident or about the whereabouts of Paynter, please call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Do not approach the suspect. He is considered dangerous. Please contact police immediately.

A lot of resolutions were made at the latest Council meeting  as the City prepares for the budget meeting which will be taking place on Wednesday May the 22^nd 6:30 at Council Chambers.

Resolutions were read for the mill rate to be set, levying a business tax, and a special tax for the Equipment Replacement Reserve which will all be discussed at the upcoming  Budget meeting.

Second reading was given for the bylaw which will turn the park over by the Flin Flon Petting Zoo from Parks and Rec to the City and are moving forward creating a Board Of Directors.

The Flin Flon Fire Chief gave his report which included 4 incidents for March including a fire alarm at the Flin Flon Airport.  Crews responded and found a heater that caused the alarm to sound but there was no smoke or fire found.

Two fire alarms were also called in from 60 Hapnot street and 53 Callinan which were caused by burnt cooking and an alarm went off due to dust from cleaning. A motor vehicle accident was also called in from Tweedsmuir where a vehicle had hit a hydro pole.

Councillor Stee Lytwin mentioned that Moosehide Campaign Day will be taking place on Thursday May the 16^th and Hapnot and Many Faces schools both have walks planned for that day starting at 11.

The community is welcome to come out and take part.  

The City Of Flin Flon  is teaming up with the Chamber Of Commerce and Community Futures Greenstone for the Great Community Cleanup happening this Saturday .

This will be a chance to get out and clean up your neighborhood, get some fresh air and exercise and take pride in your community. City Councillor Alison Dallas Funk  tells us how you can get involved.

" It is going to be this Saturday May the 11th , you can pick up garbage bags at the Uptown Emporium, so they will be open and it will be the meeting location if you are doing the uptown area. This actually was intiated by the Main Street Committee and now Becky and her staff from Community Futures Greenstone have stepped up and made it a community initiative."

As an added bonus there will be a chance to win some  random prizes from the Prize Patrol who will be out and about between 11 and 4.

An exciting time for campers , tourists and local residents as many provincial parks are getting ready to open up for the summer. Many have already opened up down south.

Parks in Northern Manitoba are opening up on May the 17th just in time for the May long weekend,  including Bakers Narrows Provincial Park. Other popular spots include Gyles Park, Paint Lake and Wekusko Falls.

If you are looking to reserve a spot for any provincial campground you can go online at maniotobaparks.com or call 1888-482-2267.

Don’t forget you will also need a Provincial Park Vehicle Permit and you can get that online at manitobalicensing.ca.

President Dianne Russell chaired the meeting and mentioned that 80% of their clients have been personally contacted. Work continues with the Trails Association who just received a $500.00 donation from Hudbay to help pay for insurance.

They continue to work with the Main Street Revitalization Committee who are chairing a community cleanup this Saturday between 11 and 4 which will cover the entire community.

They received a donation from the Credit Union to hire two youths to clean and look after the flowers on Main street once a week. This group continues to work with the City for the beautification of Main street.

Fundraising continues for a roof over Pioneer Square with $7.000.00 being raised, with a goal of $20,000.00 in mind.

Doug Lauvstad who is the President of University College Of The North was the special guest speaker and was very optimistic on a lot of programs being offered in Flin Flon and the North.

UCN has been involved in a partnership with MPI which is an adult driving program happening all over the North. The focus is to improve road safety and allow all adults across the North to get their driver’s license. Right now there are driving instructors in Flin Flon, The Pas, Thompson, Churchill and they are looking to add more including Norway House.

The Diploma in Practical Nursing is going well with $4.5 million dollars being given to expand practical nursing in Flin Flon, Swan River and Thompson. $2 million alone for Flin Flon.

You can help clean up around Bakers Narrows this Saturday with Highway Cleanup Day.

Community member Kara Plamondon invites everyone to come out and take part.

"  I just want to let people know that this Saturday from 9 to 4 we are going to have our community cleanup happening around Bakers Narrows. We will be  between the highway at Bakers Narrows all the way to Schist Lake. The Big Island Cottage Owners will take over after that. You can either register by calling Dick at 687-5836  or call me at 687- 5061 or message us on facebook.

A free community barbecue will take place at noon and bags and vests will be provided. You can show up at Bakers Narrows to help out anytime between 9 and 4.

The Flin Flon Chamber Of Commerce held their monthly meeting at the Friendship Centre on Tuesday afternoon and the special guest speaker was Doug Lauvstad, the President of the University College Of The North.

Lauvstad commented on the different programs they will be focussing in on in both Flin Flon and across the North. 

"  I think with Flin Flon the number one  focus is getting the new diploma in practical nursing, building up and operational and students in the classrooms. Hopefully in a few years we see a number of people graduating. Throughout the North one of our areas is to responding to the critical minerals strategy both at the federal and provincila level. What that means is providing training that supports the mining companies and other resource companies and heavy industry to get the skills they need particularly in the area of industrial trades."

Lauvstad also talked about the partnership that is happening with MPI, diplomas in practical nursing and the Northern Arts program.

Information  about all the programs that UCN are offering can be seen at ucn.ca.

On May 5, 2024, RCMP charged both female youths with 2^nd Degree Murder and Attempted Murder in relation to the May 4 homicide of a 32-year-old female and the attempt murder on a 35-year-old female in the community.

The 35-year-old female remains in hospital in stable condition.

Both youth were remanded into custody.

RCMP continue to investigate.

The Town Of Creighton is preparing for their spring cleanup and have a lot of events coming up later this month for the residents to take part in as we get the details from Lindsay Shirran.

" The Creighton Spring Clean Up will take place May the 21st to the 24th. Creighton residents can place any unwanted items or garbage at their usual pickup locations,  and the Public Works Department will pick it up. They ask that any fridges or freezers have the frion removed. There is also free dumping at the Creighton Landfill between May the 15th and 28th. That will lead up to the Community Yard Sale which will be on May the 25th. If you are going to have a yard sale that week I ask you to call me or Kim at the Rec Office at 306-688-3538, and have it in by May the 16th."

Remember to place any unwanted items or garbage at your usual pickup location and the Public Works Department will pick it up and take it to the dump. You can also call the Creighton Town Office to arrange for pick-up of bigger items at 306-688-8253.

With summer around the corner, the Flin Flon Friendship Centre is into final preparations for Camp Moochikun which will begin in early July.

Events Co-ordinator Joe Anne Pelletier  says they are looking for people to apply to be Camp Co-ordinator as well as  leaders.

"  Depending on the position itself the Camp Co-ordinator will start June 17th til August the 23rd. The Camp Co-ordinator will be the one who will develop and do the implementing and evaluating for activities including directing and supervising the camp leaders. When they come in they need a class 5 drivers license, organization, leadership and supervision skills and provide a criminal record check. Any knowledge on indigenous values and beliefs would be an assett as well. We have four positions for camp leaders and they are responsible for assisting and planning the summer activities." 

The camp is free and will start on July the 8^th going til August the 22^nd. There are two different age categories including 5 to 7 and 8 to 10. Registration forms will be available to be picked up at the Friendship Centre starting June the 10^th.

After a ten year run on Flin Flon’s Main street, Freedoms Way Thrift store will be closing for good at the end of this month. The owner Dorian Kent tells us the decision is bitter sweet and knows a lot of people in the community are disappointed.

"  It has been an interesting ten and a half years running the thrift store, we have got to meet a lot of good people over the years and make some special friendships. Like a lot of places Covid really impacted us and we just couldn't keep afloat these last few years. There is a lot of sadness to see this go but also excited to see what the future brings. We tried our best to help the people of Flin Flon and the surrounding areas and it was a tough decision but it had to be made."

The last day will be on Wednesday May the 31^st and you can stop by the store Tuesday through Saturday 11 to 5. They are no longer accepting donations and there are some great deals including a small bag of items for $5..00, medium bag for $10.00 and a large bag for  $30.00.

There is a fundraiser taking place this weekend for the new  Flin Flon Aqua Centre. Escape Rooms At The Staff House is back and takes place today through Sunday.

The committee’s Karen McKinnon says this event has been successful in the past. " A couple of people on the events committe came up with the idea and they have been held before in the community but haven't been held for a long time. We had one back in March and it was a major success, so people who didn't want to get in wanted to try this again. Kelsey Anderson from the City has been busy setting this up in the Staff House,  which is a perfect spot and she is even using the basement this time. You get clues and your team has so much time to escape out of the room and it is a fun thing."

You can message Flin Flon Recreation on facebook or e-mail kandersen @flinflon.ca. The Aqua Centre Committee will also be hosting a bake sale just before the Flin Flon Arts Council’s spring concert this Sunday at St. Annes. Donations are coming in and you can still drop of baking with details on the Aqua Centre facebook page.

Last Friday , as a result of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking within the City of Thompson, RCMP officers with the Thompson General Investigative Section along with assistance from Thompson Detachment officers and Police Dog Services executed a search warrant at a residence located on Yale Avenue.

The search of the property led to the seizure of approximately $10,000 in cash, a small quantity of cocaine, drug packaging paraphernalia and weapons.

A 16-year-old male youth was arrested on scene and later released for a court appearance scheduled for August 23, 2024, in Thompson, where he will face charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Production of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Thompson RCMP continue to investigate.

The Flin Flon Guidance Nursery will be celebrating their 50^th anniversary in Flin Flon later this month and Rhonda Boyd  tells us there will be a lot going on to mark the occasion.

"  It will be a Tuesday at the nursery school, we will be having cake and coffe along with our general annual meeting. Everybody is invited to come out and check out the nursery school and have cake and coffe with us. So bring the kids and we will have some activities and balloons to help celebrate."

They will also be holding  their AGM this night as well and is open to anyone who would like to attend on Tuesday May the 21^st starting at 7pm.

The Women’s  Resource Centre is hosting a special  event in honor of Red Dress Day coming up this Friday . Hanne Buettner will be the host and explains what they will be doing.

"  Just letting you know there is a painting night happening tomorrow at the Women's Resource Centre. We have 10 seats available between 5 til 7 and we are doing it in honor of Red Dress Day on May the 5th. If you would like to come out and paint a picture with us that would be great."

If you are interested and want to sign up or are looking for more information call 204-681-3105 or go the Women’s Resource Centre facebook page.

The Flin Flon Recycling Centre held their AGM and handed out some awards Tuesday night  at Council Chambers at City Hall. Administrator Deb Odegaard lets us know who they recognized this year.

"  Well the meeting went very well , we always have a powerpoint that just reviews how everything has gone in the last year. This year we honored Kara Plamondon for her work with Mother's Day with Mother Earth as a community member. Our staff person Bev Jackson has been with us for 5 years and she does a really good job so we wanted to honor her too."

Another purpose of the meeting was to get information on how to get more people in Flin Flon and the surrounding area to start recycling more.  They are still in need for more people to join the board and if you are interested you can go to the website at flinflonrecycling.org or call 204-687-6169.

The OCN Chief and Council are looking for worthy recipients for their first ever Spirit of Excellence Awards. It recognizes those who have made significant contributions that will be seen and felt for generations to come -with the goal to inspire all to do more for the community.  The award is exclusively for members of the OCN and details on the nomination process can be found at opaskwayak.com. The awards ceremony will place at the Kikiwak in on July 17^th. 

With summer upon us Cranberry is preparing for their Artisan Markets,  where they give vendors from all over the North  the opportunity to showcase their products and services.

Barb Bragg who was at the CFAR Trade Show this weekend talked about the different events which they will be hosting throughout the summer.

"One of the things we're trying to do at the trade show here is actually get people to stop in Cranberry because it's kind of in drive-through town. So if they stop in Cranberry, they can go to the market, which is happening pretty much once a month over the summer on the grounds of the heritage

museum, which if they've never been to the museum, they need to go because it's fabulous. We have the Trout Challenge weekend, the August Long Weekend, which also makes the town burgeon up to many, many people. And yeah, it's just, we're really trying to showcase all of the stuff going on in Cranberry. Our slogan is uncover the history. Embrace the adventure because we've got it all."

Thefirst summer market is May the 25^th with others planned for July the 6^th, August the 3^rd and September the 7^th. It is $20.00 per booth and you can register at 204-680-6003.

On Thursday , shortly after 4:00 am, an unknown person dropped off a severely injured male at the Thompson General Hospital in Thompson. It is believed the victim was injured in an assault.

RCMP are looking to speak to the person who dropped off the injured male and are asking him to reach out to Thompson RCMP. It is not believed that this individual was involved in the assault, but that he came across the victim and brought him for treatment.

The male was driving a white GMC pickup truck with a box cover on it, looks to have a thin build, and was wearing a grey baseball hat with a black peak and a black jacket.

The victim remains in serious condition in hospital.

Thompson RCMP can be reached at 204-677-6911 if you are this individual or if you can help identify him, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.